Reactivated mobile phone sets

KARACHI – Some repair shops in the Electronics Market, Saddar are doing a thriving business by recommissioning jammed mobile phones mainly brought by people returning from European countries.

A survey conducted by the Dawn showed that some big shops located in the Electronics Market of Saddar, mainly doing business in mobile phones spare parts, were now also repairing such jammed sets.

An employee of one such shop told Dawn that on average over a hundred jammed sets were being received at the shop daily for repairs. A bulk of these sets were those brought by people returning from England, he added.

“In England or any other European country, mobile service providers block hands sets in case their customers lose them or if they get stolen,” said Adnan Razi, who had recently returned from England.

Mr Razi himself had managed to get hold of some jammed cellphones himself, which he brought to Karachi. “I took these sets to a very reputed cellular spare parts dealer in Saddar. They charged me Rs500 for recommissioning each set,” Adnan added.

A visit to these shops revealed that several policemen were also among their frequent customers. They bring a number of jammed sets and after repairs dispose them of at the market.

While the practice of jamming snatched mobile phone sets by mobile service providers was non-existent in the country, and service providers were shying away from using the option.

As a result, an unspecific number of cell phones were being snatched at gunpoint from almost every paty of the city.

A large number of policemen were also suspected of being involved in these snatching incidents.
Source: Dawn
Date:10/28/2004